8 carat oval diamond size
Oval diamonds are one of the ‘spreadiest’ shapes of any diamond, which means that for a given carat weight, they appear larger than other shapes.
A typical A typical 8 carat oval diamond may be around 16.23mm × 10.82mm × 6.6mm.
Here’s how it looks compared to a 7 carat and an 9 carat:
One important thing to understand when you are looking at 8 carat oval diamonds is that carat weight is a measure of weight rather than size.
Carat weight is therefore spread out throughout the volume of the stone ie. length, width and depth.
This can mean that two 8 carat diamonds can actually appear very different sizes when set into a ring and viewed from the top.
With this shape, it means that a 8 carat oval will look significantly larger than a 8 carat round diamond ring, but also larger that many other shapes like a 8 carat diamond ring with an emerald cut too.
8 carat diamond L/W ratio
Length-width ratio is, unsurprisingly, the ratio between the length and the width of a diamond:
This can hugely change what an oval cut diamond looks like
For smaller oval diamonds, I usually recommend a L/W ratio of 1.5:1, as this gives an elegant, elongated appearance.
However, for higher carat weights, a longer stone can look too large, and a shorter diamond may be preferable, both from a looks point of view, and cost.
Lower L/W ratio oval diamonds are generally priced lower that higher L/W ratios, as they use more of the rough diamond (which means less needs to be wasted) and there are more of them available (law of supply and demand coming into effect).
At 8 carats, a L/W ratio of 1.4 – 1.45 will look great on the finger.
Watch out: bow tie effect
One thing to watch out for with higher carat weight oval diamonds is that the ‘bow tie’ effect may be more noticeable.
The bow tie is an unappealing dark band that can run across the center of some ovals:
This effect is often more noticeable on shallower stones with a high L/W ratio, as the light is reflected off the bottom of the stone (the pavilion facets) at the wrong angle to be reflected back to your eye, causing the dark band where light is lost.
While it’s not uncommon for a oval to have some bow tie, The best way to avoid is it to ensure that you have access to high quality 8 carat ovals diamonds which have been cut to avoid the bow tie, and to specifically look for it when reviewing your options.
8 carat oval diamond color
As you likely know, diamond color is graded on a GIA-developed scale from D to Z, although most diamonds used in jewelry fall into the D to M range:
Higher carat weight diamonds tend to show up color more easily than smaller stones, especially in the corners where they sparkle less.
If you want to ensure your diamond doesn’t have a yellow tint, it’s important to try and keep the color as high up the scale as possible.
On the other side of the equation is the effect color has on price.
In most shapes, the price difference between an H color, I color and J color diamond can be significant,
With a 8 carat oval, the color grade you choose can be dependant on the color of the ring setting you are going to pair the diamond with. If you are choosing a white colored setting (platinum or white gold), then I color delivers a good balance of white appearance and value.
However, if you are choosing a yellow gold setting, then you can reduce the color of your diamond to J without it looking yellow, as it will still look white compared to the warm tones of the setting.
8 carat oval diamond clarity
Clarity is a measure of the presence of inclusions (or flaws) within a diamond.
The clarity scale runs:
Oval diamonds are a brilliant cut, which means that they are optimised to reflect light back from the bottom of the stone in the form of brilliant sparkle. This can mean that inclusions can be difficult to see under the facets, which is a good thing!
However, at the same time their elongated shape means they have a large ‘table’ (the flat area on the top of the diamond), which can mean that inclusions located here are easier to see. At higher carat weights, this issue is compounded as a bigger diamond means a bigger window where flaws can be seen.
A good starting point for 8 carat oval diamond clarity is SI1:
However, depending on the diamonds that are available at the time you are looking, you may need to increase this to VS2, or even higher, to ensure that the diamond is ‘eye clean’ and no flaws can be seen.
Pictures of 8 carat oval diamond rings on the hand
Higher carat weight rings mean that additional considerations can be needed to be taken into account, depending on the ring setting style chosen.
These images of 8 carat oval diamond rings on the finger will show you how big your ring could actually look.
8 carat oval diamond solitaire ring
Solitaire settings are a great match for 8 carat oval diamond solitaire ring – the simple style is a great pairing with the elegance of the diamond.
A major trend with settings is super slim and petite bands and prongs, which are effective in making the stone itself look larger.
While these can look great, some care does need to be taken with higher carat weights, as an extremely narrow band may not be wide enough to support the stone. It may twist on the finger and become uncomfortable.
If you’re choosing a solitaire setting to match a 8 carat oval diamond solitaire ring , I recommend you choose a band of at least 2.5mm width.
8 carat oval diamond pavé ring
When choosing a pavé or channel setting, there is a big decision to make.
Either can be a great option, but one thing to consider is the color of the side stones.
Small, brilliant cut stones can appear whiter than larger diamonds, which means that even if you do match the color by the color grade, they still may appear whiter.
In cases like these, especially if you are going a little lower on the color on your center stone, it can be a good idea to work with an expert to ensure that the side stones complement the center stone.
8 carat oval diamond three stone ring
Three stone oval rings look great when paired with other brilliant cut diamonds, particularly oval or pear diamonds.
These work particularly well because the side stones make the transition from the long broad side of the oval to the narrow band more gentle and more elegant.
8 carat oval diamond halo ring
At 8 carats, some may feel that a halo is unnecessary to increase the size and impressiveness of the ring.
However, if you do choose a halo for your 8 carat oval ring, ensuring the side stones are a good match for the center stone is essential, due to their proximity.
Even more so than with a pave or channel setting, working with someone who can color-match the side stones to the center stone is the best way to ensure that they complement each other well.
